Hannover Messe - June 2002

PLC-based OPC data exchange

Rockwell Automation has previewed its first OPC Data eXchange (DX) products including a PLC-based OPC DX server module, a PC based DX server and a vendor independent configuration tool. A DX server has been embedded in an Allen-Bradley ControlLogix module, with RSLinx DX software offering both a DX server similar to the PLC based module, and a vendor independent OPC DX configuration tool.

OPC DX is an emerging technology designed to allow peer-to-peer communications over an Ethernet network between controllers and systems from multiple vendors, configured using open, vendor-independent tools. This initiative is being led by the OPC Foundation and is sponsored by leading Fieldbus organisations including the Open DeviceNet Vendor Association, ControlNet International and Fieldbus Foundation. OPC DX has been designed to complement open Ethernet standards such as EtherNet/IP and High Speed Ethernet (HSE).

Using OPC DX, a single tool is used to configure all the OPC DX devices on a network, no matter what manufacturer they come from, using standard DCOM and XML based interfaces. By embedding this technology in a PC and running on top of a standard OPC server like RSLinx, Rockwell goes further than sharing data with other manufacturers' PLCs, and enables communications between any Allen-Bradley devices or any device with an Electronic Data Sheet on any CIP network such as DeviceNet, ControlNet, and EtherNet/IP.

Rockwell Automation
h118@industrialnetworking.co.uk